Encouraging Innovation In Education To Improve Gap And Improve Quality In Southeast Asia

JAKARTA - The International Baccalaureate (IB) succeeded in holding the annual Southeast Asian Summit in Jakarta on Thursday, November 14, becoming an important event for school leaders, pedagogists, and educators from all over the region to share the best ideas and practices in the world of education. Carrying the theme of Innovation, Integration, Inspiration, this event was attended by participants from various parts of Southeast Asia, covering IB and non-IB schools.

One of the main speakers, Jaspal Sidhu, Founder and Chairman of the SIS as well as Group of Schools Inspiration, discussed an interesting topic entitled Raising Education Gaps: Opening the Strength of A Model That Can Be Recklessed and Innovative. He underlined the major challenges facing Indonesia as the fourth largest populous country in the world in achieving quality education, as reflected in the results of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) assessment by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Jaspal explained the Half Cost Model, an innovative strategy that reduces the cost of education as it expands to smaller areas, from city A to Level C. Supported by collaborative technology and ecosystems, this model ensures that every school is integrated and exceeds international benchmarks.

Currently, the Group operates 15 schools in 11 cities and 4 countries with the support of revised investors. Although initially facing cultural challenges, a collaboration-based approach and a common vision have succeeded in creating space for teachers and administrators to share knowledge openly.

SIS and Inspiration Group have proven that affordable, accessible, and sustainable education can be realized. Thanks to the support of collaborative technology, this model guarantees that every school operates in an interconnected ecosystem, creating significant and long-term impacts," he explained.

Furthermore, Jaspal Sidhu highlighted the importance of empowering teachers through the EFFECTOR Model, which focuses on eight important attributes to create high-power educators. Seriousness, Humor, Firmness, Enthusiasm, Consistency, Time Economy, Openness of mind, and Perseverance

This approach is reinforced by collaboration with Deloitte (Singapore), which is a company providing audit and guarantee services, consultation, financial advisors, risk advisers, taxes & law, and related services, which provides a new perspective on teacher recruitment and training, including the development of innovative recruitment initiatives such as training camps to reach potential teachers in remote areas.

Iwan Syahril, Director General of Early Childhood Education, Basic Education, and Secondary Education, the Ministry of Education and Culture also supports Jaspal's idea of teacher training as the foundation of education transformation. He provided data based on the 2022 PISA report, Indonesia recorded results showing positive anomalies, of which 28 percent of students felt helped in distance learning during the pandemic, surpassing the average OECD of 24 percent.

"This is the result of the focus of the Ministry of Education on strengthening the role of teachers as the spearhead of the learning ecosystem during this difficult time," he said.

The innovations implemented by the SIS and Inspiration Group have also been recognized internationally. Various awards, including from the World Bank and the Financial Times, emphasize the positive impact of their educational models. Going forward, the Group is committed to expanding its model coverage to emerging markets, with the aim of providing quality education that is able to change lives and raise the nation.

"Education is the strongest driver of change. By combining the best global practice, local insight, and innovative approach, SIS and Inspiration Group are optimistic that they can continue to bridge the gap in education and create a real impact in the future," said Jaspal.